The consent- the bride and groom must consent to the marriage, both verbally & in writing. A first time bride is usually represented in the contract with a male relative. The consent cannot be obtained by anyone who is legally unable to do sign it(minors, physical or mental impairments, etc).
"Mahr" translated as the dowry but is better known or expressed as the bridal gift. This gift is from the groom to the bride as her own property of security in the marriage. The gift is directly payed to the bride and she keeps it even if they divorce. The mahr gift can be in a form of cash, jewelry, property, or any other asset that is valuable. If there happens to be a divorce or death(with groom) the mahr becomes a debt to the husband's estate.
Marriage Age: Afghan marriage traditions allow girls of ten years of age or younger to get engaged, but not married. The marriage can take place only when they are sixteen.Many girls are married off before the legal age for different reasons, sometimes to end a dispute or to earn money.
Sunam wears her gold-sequined engagement outfit a speechless response not out of shyness, but because she does not yet talk much Sunam is 3.The toddler was engaged to her 7-year-old cousin Nieem in June, in a match made by their parents. Torpekay, is an Afghan girl from western Herat Province. Although just 17, she has been married for four years."Torpekay tells RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that becoming a wife at the tender age of 13, being forced to serve her husband's family, and having virtually no say in her own life have taken a heavy toll on her. So heavy, she says, that she tried to escape by taking her own life."
Afghan brides usually have two dresses first the islamic green dress. Than the bride changes into her fairy-tale white dress. You know how wealthy they are by how many dresses they change into. The more changes that occurs the more wealthier they are.
Separationof bride & groom: a form of protection so that nothing accidently happens during the sensitive time.
Engagement-
The groom and his family comes to the home of the bride on a specific day. They come with gifts such as sweets and gifts for the bride to be, as well as money and clothes for the bride's family. The bride's family hosts a meal, than the father of the groom request for the hand of the bride.The father of the bride accepts the groom as his servant, afterwards they talk about the matters of dowry. Which includes how much jewelry the bride will be given, the amount of all the expenses including the wedding, in which the groom's family pays for. The groom's family discusses the "mahr" or the quranic direction of the girl including livestock, property, and money.
Time between engagement & marriage-
During this time the groom's family pays for the bride's jewelry, clothes, and anything else she may need. As well as providing carpet, dishes, and any other household items for the bride. The groom is preparing to pay for the wedding expenses, and if he can't than he has to live with his father-in-law until he pays off his debt. During this time period the bride and groom do not meet, but can give gifts through a family member to each other. The groom's parents must visit the bride during the festive occasions.
The Henna Night: Takht e Khina-
The groom's family pays for this function but the bride's family hosts it. The groom is escorted by his oldest brother to sit next to his bride to be. The groom puts henna into the bride's palm and covers it with a white cloth, than he leaves. The female relatives from both sides decorates the brides hands and feet with the henna. Not only does the bride get henna on her hands and feet, but so does all the female relatives present. The unmarried girls believe that if they get a henna on their pinkie finger, it will improve them to marry faster.This occasion happens either the night before the wedding or a few days before the wedding. The groom's family pay
The Marriage Ceremony: The Nikah-
The customs of the Afghan wedding are that the festivities be spread over a three day time period(ceremony held 6 pm & 2 am). Like normal wedding the bride & groom exchange vowels in front of the Mullah (priest). This event is only attended by close family and friends. As the bride and groom walk down the aisle, the holy quran is held over top of their heads. The bride and groom are covered under a decorated shawl, in the past groom look at his bride in a mirror. While looking at his bride to be he would recite a prayer from the quran. This would be the bride and groom's first time seeing each other.
Significance of the ceremony:
Bride now belongs to the groom's family
She is clean of any evil spirits she may be bringing into their family
She is pure
Islamic culture: A bride must never smile during the entire wedding event. If she smiles in public than her father will loose honor. Her happiness can not be shown or this would make people believe that the girl is happy she is leaving her father's house.
The Reception- is hosted by the groom's family, where the rest of the guest attend. The female and male guests are separated and entertained in different areas. A lavish dinner is served, and afterwards the bride & groom walk up and down the aisle. Where they are showered with lots of flowers and sweets while a song called "asta burrow" (go slowly) is played. Than the bride and groom sit on a raised stage, as they go through rituals and exchange rings and cut the cake. When the morning comes the bride and groom are taken to their wedding chamber and than left alone.
The consent- the bride and groom must consent to the marriage, both verbally & in writing. A first time bride is usually represented in the contract with a male relative. The consent cannot be obtained by anyone who is legally unable to do sign it(minors, physical or mental impairments, etc).
"Mahr" translated as the dowry but is better known or expressed as the bridal gift. This gift is from the groom to the bride as her own property of security in the marriage. The gift is directly payed to the bride and she keeps it even if they divorce. The mahr gift can be in a form of cash, jewelry, property, or any other asset that is valuable. If there happens to be a divorce or death(with groom) the mahr becomes a debt to the husband's estate.
Marriage Age:
Afghan marriage traditions allow girls of ten years of age or younger to get engaged, but not married. The marriage can take place only when they are sixteen.Many girls are married off before the legal age for different reasons, sometimes to end a dispute or to earn money.
Sunam wears her gold-sequined engagement outfit a speechless response not out of shyness, but because she does not yet talk much Sunam is 3.The toddler was engaged to her 7-year-old cousin Nieem in June, in a match made by their parents.
Torpekay, is an Afghan girl from western Herat Province. Although just 17, she has been married for four years."Torpekay tells RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that becoming a wife at the tender age of 13, being forced to serve her husband's family, and having virtually no say in her own life have taken a heavy toll on her. So heavy, she says, that she tried to escape by taking her own life."
Separationof bride & groom: a form of protection so that nothing accidently happens during the sensitive time.
The groom and his family comes to the home of the bride on a specific day. They come with gifts such as sweets and gifts for the bride to be, as well as money and clothes for the bride's family. The bride's family hosts a meal, than the father of the groom request for the hand of the bride.The father of the bride accepts the groom as his servant, afterwards they talk about the matters of dowry. Which includes how much jewelry the bride will be given, the amount of all the expenses including the wedding, in which the groom's family pays for. The groom's family discusses the "mahr" or the quranic direction of the girl including livestock, property, and money.
Time between engagement & marriage-
During this time the groom's family pays for the bride's jewelry, clothes, and anything else she may need. As well as providing carpet, dishes, and any other household items for the bride. The groom is preparing to pay for the wedding expenses, and if he can't than he has to live with his father-in-law until he pays off his debt. During this time period the bride and groom do not meet, but can give gifts through a family member to each other. The groom's parents must visit the bride during the festive occasions.
The Henna Night: Takht e Khina-
The groom's family pays for this function but the bride's family hosts it. The groom is escorted by his oldest brother to sit next to his bride to be. The groom puts henna into the bride's palm and covers it with a white cloth, than he leaves. The female relatives from both sides decorates the brides hands and feet with the henna. Not only does the bride get henna on her hands and feet, but so does all the female relatives present. The unmarried girls believe that if they get a henna on their pinkie finger, it will improve them to marry faster.This occasion happens either the night before the wedding or a few days before the wedding. The groom's family pay
The Marriage Ceremony: The Nikah-
The customs of the Afghan wedding are that the festivities be spread over a three day time period(ceremony held 6 pm & 2 am). Like normal wedding the bride & groom exchange vowels in front of the Mullah (priest). This event is only attended by close family and friends. As the bride and groom walk down the aisle, the holy quran is held over top of their heads. The bride and groom are covered under a decorated shawl, in the past groom look at his bride in a mirror. While looking at his bride to be he would recite a prayer from the quran. This would be the bride and groom's first time seeing each other.
Significance of the ceremony:
Bride now belongs to the groom's family
She is clean of any evil spirits she may be bringing into their family
She is pure
Islamic culture: A bride must never smile during the entire wedding event. If she smiles in public than her father will loose honor. Her happiness can not be shown or this would make people believe that the girl is happy she is leaving her father's house.
[[#|Work]] Cited:
http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-customs.html
http://www.google.com
http://afghanland.com/culture/wedding.html
http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/a/contract.htm
http://www.about-afghanistan.com/afghan-weddings.html
http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-traditions.html
http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1079316.html
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-10-13-marriage_N.htm